Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. 'debilitated by depression'

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s wife dismissed many of the rumors surrounding her husband’s disappearance and treatment and said he was “focusing on going back to work” in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times published Saturday.

Alderwoman Sandi Jackson said Jackson , 47, collapsed at their Washington home June 10 after becoming “completely debilitated by depression” and suffering from symptoms of physical exhaustion.

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The Democratic congressman from Chicago last week was reported to be receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic for depression and gastrointestinal issues following a mysterious seven-week absence from public life.

Sandi Jackson denied the congressman was suffering from a drug- or alcohol-related condition, or had attempted suicide. She also said he had been kept in a “news blackout” during his recovery.

“We decided to impose a news blackout during his treatment to enable him to heal,” she said.

She also gave the paper an insight into Jackson Jr.’s current condition.

“What I can tell you is my husband has his good days and bad days and they are increasing his depression medication to therapeutic levels.

“They are now trying to find out if his depression, which has not yet been diagnosed as a bipolar disorder, is connected to the weight-loss surgery. We don’t know.

“Jesse is now gaining weight and eating and feeling better in that sense, but he is still very depressed. But I am encouraged by the number of tests they are running and the quality of the analysis.”

As to a potential return to public life, she said: “It’s all up in the air. Jesse has his ups and downs. And although he has talked about teaching, he’s focusing on going back to work. Back to his job. He is a gifted legislator.”

Jackson , who has served as representative of Illinois’s 2nd District since 1995, is the son of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson. He underwent a gastric bypass weight-loss surgery in 2004.

My friend at Bain Capital told me that the only thing worse than the (not so soft) bigotry of low expectations built in to every affirmative action success - is the bigotry of low expectations built in to an affirmative action success enabled one generation further only through nepotism.

Ladies and gentlemen: Jesse Jackson Jr.

In 1863 the Democrats fought unsuccessfully to keep slavery the rule of the land. When the Republicans defeated Democrat efforts and ended slavery, that slavery was replaced by segregation. In 1964 the Democrats then fought unsuccessfuly to keep segregation as the rule of the land. When the Republicans defeated Democrat efforts and ended segregation, the Democrats replaced it with institutional socialism. In 2012, that socialism has restored all the slavery and segregation the Democrats initially fought to maintain in America.

The Democrats were the party of slavery and segreation yesterday, they're the party of slavery and segregation today, and will be the party of slavery and segregation tomorrow. In 2010 we fended off their debilitating socialistic programs for 2 years, and in 2012 we can fend them off for another 100.

Love, not the government, breeds accountability. Children who fail in schools typically have parents who are failing them. Inter-generational dependence is rampant, and it's heartbreaking that so many of our American brothers and sisters who happen to be black - have so broadly never once woken up and put their feet on the ground to face the day with only their liberty and will to rely on. Liberty is a right that was GIFTED to the American citizen by our Founders. Personal responsibility is the wrapping paper of that gift, so if you're going to exercise and enjoy liberty...you have to accept absolute personal responsibility as the means to enable it. The minute you are segregated as a victim of phantom forces constantly out to get you...the second you are reduced to dependency that requires not laziness but rather the sheer simplicity of human nature to become enslaved by...the liberty so many Americans know and have known throughout our history, is no more for you as an individual.

Minority individuals, families, and communities ARE victims. However, consistent with the "audacity" espoused as a virtue by current leadership, they are victims of the very politicians and community leaders and organizers who claim to be the only "hope" those individuals have for any type of happiness or opportunity.

It's a lie, and it's the biggest one the left in America has gotten away with telling via their complicit media, Hollywood, public sector, and educational institutions.

The only "change you can believe in" is change YOU are responsible for. Anyone who tells you otherwise in a freedom and liberty-based society, has just slapped you in the face.

Call me a proponent of "Faux News" (I thought lefties were supposed to be creative?), but I primarily get my news from MSNBC and CNN. The rich irony is worth noting however that in a nation where NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, HLN, CNBC, PBS, NPR, the New York times and 90+% of our nation's largest newspapers, virtually ALL of Hollywood, and most of our union-dominated public and higher education institutions are in lock-step with the liberal/progressive/socialist/Democrat agenda...it's Fox News and AM talk radio that are branded as the brainwashing mechanisms of our society.

My friend at Bain Capital told me that the only thing worse than the (not so soft) bigotry of low expectations built in to every affirmative action success - is the bigotry of low expectations built in to an affirmative action success enabled one generation further only through nepotism.

Ladies and gentlemen: Jesse Jackson Jr.

In 1863 the Democrats fought unsuccessfully to keep slavery the rule of the land. When the Republicans defeated Democrat efforts and ended slavery, that slavery was replaced by segregation. In 1964 the Democrats then fought unsuccessfuly to keep segregation as the rule of the land. When the Republicans defeated Democrat efforts and ended segregation, the Democrats replaced it with institutional socialism. In 2012, that socialism has restored all the slavery and segregation the Democrats initially fought to maintain in America.

The Democrats were the party of slavery and segreation yesterday, they're the party of slavery and segregation today, and will be the party of slavery and segregation tomorrow. In 2010 we fended off their debilitating socialistic programs for 2 years, and in 2012 we can fend them off for another 100.

Love, not the government, breeds accountability. Children who fail in schools typically have parents who are failing them. Inter-generational dependence is rampant, and it's heartbreaking that so many of our American brothers and sisters who happen to be black - have so broadly never once woken up and put their feet on the ground to face the day with only their liberty and will to rely on. Liberty is a right that was GIFTED to the American citizen by our Founders. Personal responsibility is the wrapping paper of that gift, so if you're going to exercise and enjoy liberty...you have to accept absolute personal responsibility as the means to enable it. The minute you are segregated as a victim of phantom forces constantly out to get you...the second you are reduced to dependency that requires not laziness but rather the sheer simplicity of human nature to become enslaved by...the liberty so many Americans know and have known throughout our history, is no more for you as an individual.

Minority individuals, families, and communities ARE victims. However, consistent with the "audacity" espoused as a virtue by current leadership, they are victims of the very politicians and community leaders and organizers who claim to be the only "hope" those individuals have for any type of happiness or opportunity.

It's a lie, and it's the biggest one the left in America has gotten away with telling via their complicit media, Hollywood, public sector, and educational institutions.

The only "change you can believe in" is change YOU are responsible for. Anyone who tells you otherwise in a freedom and liberty-based society, has just slapped you in the face.

Call me a proponent of "Faux News" (I thought lefties were supposed to be creative?), but I primarily get my news from MSNBC and CNN. The rich irony is worth noting however that in a nation where NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, HLN, CNBC, PBS, NPR, the New York times and 90+% of our nation's largest newspapers, virtually ALL of Hollywood, and most of our union-dominated public and higher education institutions are in lock-step with the liberal/progressive/socialist/Democrat agenda...it's Fox News and AM talk radio that are branded as the brainwashing mechanisms of our society.

The humilation of not being a Senator and only being relegated to a Congressman in a district that will keep re-upping you unless you self destruct. It'd be enough to make you self destruct (if your ego was that HUGE).

This entire matter of Jessie, Jr's "Depression illness" is strange to say the least ! ...

If he's this depressed because he aspects of becoming a Senator etc was wiped-out, he shouldn't even think of running for office in the future ! Perhaps teaching would be a better career move for him !

The job of representitive in congress is too important and has too much potential to do harm to the nation and its citizens to allow a clinically depressed person who cannot take the pressure, anywhere NEAR a forum that puts the rest of us at the mercy of a potentially suicidal lunatic. Congress is there to do the people's business, not to stroke Mr. Jackson's ego, just because he might feel that he is somehow owed the mantle of congressman, because of what he looks like or who his Daddy happens to be. Even if Democrats don't think the nation is at risk, for the good of the party, Democrats need to INSIST that Mr. Jackson RESIGN NOW!! I doubt if Mr. Jackson's district is at risk of going Republican, so it is incumbent upon the Democrat leadership to get out from under their desks and confront this problem, head on, for the good of the nation.

Fair enough, David. Sorry for generalizing. There are some hateful comments here though. As for him not serving his district's constituents I agree. That said, I can't believe you feel any Democratic legislator is serving his or her constituents well, given that you disagree with most Democrats on virtually every position.